Nebraska Newspapers

    O. H. CRONIN. Publisher.
O’NEILL. NEBRASKA
The earliest use of deleterious gases
In siege warfare Is recorded In the his
tory of the Peloponnesian wsrs
from 431 to 404 B. C. During this
struggle between the Athenians and
Bpartatus and their respeetive allies
the cities of Palatea and Delium were
besieged. Wood saturated with pitch
and sulphur was set on fire and burned
under the walls of those cities In order
to generate choking and poisonous
fumes, which would stupefy the de
fenders and make the task of attack
ing forces less difficult. Another form
of the same method of attack used
about this date was to fill a cauldron
with molten pitch, sulphur and burn
ing charcoal, and to blow the fumes
with the aid of a primitive form of
bellows and airblaat over the defend
ers' lines. Greek fire, about which
much wan heard In the wars of the
middle ages, was a liquid, the compo
sition of which Is now unknown, that
was spurted through the air, chiefly
In sea fights, tn order to set flic to tbs
ships of the enemy, and it was used
by the Byzantine Greeks gt the sieges
of Constantinople In the years 1261 and
1412. _ _
To the uninitiated, the treatment
■which a workman suffering from an
electrict shock receives at the hands o!
his coworkers is Inhuman and brutal,
says Popular Science Monthly. When
a lineman, for Instance, stringing pri
mary wires has received a shock which
caused him to lose his balance and fall
to the ground, apparently lifeless, the
first thing hi* working mates do Is to
take firm hold of the ankles of the
limp body, raise It until the entire
weight rests upon the back of the
neck and then let it drop again. Next
they will take a pair of connectors or
any other heavy object and hammer
the soles of the victim's feet without
removing the shoes. While this Is being
done another comrade will pry open the
mouth and yank forward the tongue,
which Is Invariably swallowed In elec
tric shock. By this time, unless the
man was instantly killed, he has re
covered consciousness, the successive
shocks of pain having in some way
counterbalanced the effects of the elec
tricity. _ _ _
Prometheus, the organ of the Ger
man Iron trade, makes an elaborate
calculation as to the quality of steel
■which is now lying on the hillsides
round Verdun. According to military
reports It Often happened that ns many
as 1,000,000 shots daily were fired from
guhs of various calibers. If. however,
1,000,000 shells are taken as the weekly
Instead of the dally average, we reach
almost incredible totals. Taking the
ground fought over as 260 square kilo
meters, and the average weight of the
shells as 90 pounds, no less than 1,360 -
•00 tons of steel exploded on the area
In question. This weight Is sufficient
to load 136.000 heavy goods wagons,
and works out at 13 tons of steel per1
acre. Taking the price of scrap steel
at $17.60 per ton, we have a crop of steel
worth about $226 per acre, a crop
which Prometheus thinks Is well worth
garnering.
The so-called Federation of Soviets Is
a superimposed class rule on a people
In Russia who want to be democratic.
It was put into power by a small group
of fanatically extreme social democrats,
the real, the conscious bolsheVlsts,
under the leadership of l^enlne, and has
never at any time expressed the will of
the people. The soviets, beginning with
the bigger cities, spread ovsr Russia In
a very few weeks, following the origi
nal revolution. They were socialists In
character In the cities and In the army,
where the medalists' propaganda had
been spread, but In the villages, where
the great "masses” of the Russian peo
ple live, there was not much political
education, and the soviet was simply
the expression of popular will of all
glnda. It was the town meeting.
In a recent storm at Torrington Point,
Peaks Island, Me., a large tree, of which
measures almost a foot and a half in
diameter, was split entirely In two for
a space of about eight feet, the bottom
for three feet or so up from the ground
being as good as It ever was and the top
also showing no signs of a break. At
flrst it was thought the tree had been
split by lightning, but careful Investi
gation disclosed no signs of a burn
anywhere, and how the theory Is that
the rotary motion of the wind gave
the tree a twisting nratlon that was
too much for It
Fingerprint identification, developed
from a chance attempt to trighten dis
honest East Indians, has become an
important modern science. Every per
son ih the world has his or her parti
cular finger print which cannot he
duplicated. These finger prints are
now classified into two groups, four
types, and eight patterns. Prints hie
taken by hospitals and naval authori
ties. for identification: by large cor
porations, in order to avoid rehlring
of discharged employes; by detectives,
for criminal records.
When the British housewife buy
sugar she hands Mr. Grocery-man an
orange color page. If she buys lard,
margarine, butter or other fats, she
offers a blue page. And there are four
red pages In the new ration book, for
meat and bacon. Boys and girls under
<S years old have their own ration book.
Its color is green, while the 7-year-olds
carry a white ration book and get as
much to eat as grownup folk.
The Japanese Industry of making
buttons, scarf pins, shirt studs, cuff
links and the like from sea shells
brought from the Indian ocean, the
Fhiilippines and the South Sea Islands
has made mighty strides the last few
years. Millions of shells are gathered
from tlic ocean bottom by women div
ers, wlie work without the aid of any
diving apparatus.
,8t. I-ouIr has catacombs, like those
of Paris. The mining of clay for brick
and other products has left many
chambers and tunnels beneath the out
lying districts, as the quarrying of
■tone for..building materials long ago
has undermined certain European
cities. .
—
,The area of Germany is 208,826
square miles, about the same as the
combined areas if Maine. New Hamp
shire. Vermont, Massachusetts, Con
necticut, New York, New Jersey. Penn
sylvania and Ohio. The United States
has at) area of ii,887.890 square miles.
The war department has issued an
order enabling colored nurses regis
tered by the Red Cross to render ser
vice for their own race in the army.
An illuminated door knob, for which
a jiatent has been granted, is covered
with a glass panel on which cun be
painted'a- house number-or a name.
'Experimenters in N.w Zealand I are
proved that pig Iron can be obtained
from iron sands and are producing
about 15 tons p day in a new p!;j:t.
The Belgians are locked upon :
greatest pedate eater< t i tl.e
and the Irish voice second
✓
“DRYS” IN NEBRASKA
SEEM SURE WINNERS
Many of the Old "Wet” Bunch
Failed of Renomination to
the Legislature.
Lincoln, Neb., .Sept. 13.- The official
canvass of the primary election vote
was made today by the state board,
him) the results certified. About the
only doubtful contests remaining were
those In several senatorial districts,
where the vote was very close. Only
five of the old wet” corporation crowd
that controlled at the last session and
which prevented ratification of the
national prohibitory amendment and
restrictive corporation legislation, sur
vived the primary. Several of the 19
did not file. Three of the losers were
Phil Kohl, of Wayne, senute leader for
two sessions, and his two lieutenants,
Henry, of Colfax, and Adams, of
Dawes. Only 10 of the present senate
of 33 were renominated. These are
Tanner and Mot'lerty, of Douglas; Ob
crlles, of Lancaster: Albeft, of Platte;
Robertson, of Holt; Hager, of Adams;
Bushee, of Klmhull; Hammond, of Kur
nas: Chappel of Kearney, and Neal, of
Nemaha.
Seven of the 10 candidates of the
Nonpartisan league were nominated.
These are Krowley, of Madison; Par
menter, of Saunders; Noyes, of York;
Krugh, of Howard; Taylor, of Custer;
Leavitt, of Lincoln, and Coleman, of
Dawes.
Twenty-three votes for ratification
are assured by the official count. In
22 districts nobody but "dry*" are run
ning. and these are represented by 23
senators. The best the "wets" can got
is 10, and the most they are likely to
have Is six.
CONVICTED MURDERER
SEEKING NEW TRIAL
Lincoln, Net)., Sept. 13.--The appeal
of Rudolph Kraus, a convicted murder
er undergoing a life sentence In the
penitentiary, has been set tor hearing
next Friday In supreme court. Kraus
went to hlH farm home on February 21,
1917, while intoxicated, and shot and
killed his Wife and two children. His
attorneys put up the defense of Insan
ity and claimed he had been obsessed
for months by the belief that the mem
bers of Ills family were dying of tuber
culosis and that he sought to avert their
awful fate by killing them and then
trying to kill himself. The state said
this was a fabrication designed to re
lieve him of the consequences of his
• rime, and that at most he was simply
drunk, a condition which would, If en
titled to credit, make the crime second
degree murder, which is also punish
able by a life'sentence.
NEGRO PREACHER 18
SLUGGED AND ROBBED
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 13.—Rev. Wil
liam Young. colored minister o<
Grand Island and Colorado Springs,
was slugged and robbed at Eighth and
K streets. He Is now ut St. Elizabeth
hospital In a serious condition. Dr.
Carl Bastrou, city physician, who was
called to attend the preacher) said
that while there are no outward
marks of violence the man has suffered
an Injury to the head and that it may
be oonfined to the base of the brain.
An x-ray examination will be made
by the doctor. Since his injury the
minister has been irrational at times.
SHIPPING OF GRAIN
TO BE CONSIDERED
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 11.—The Nebras
ka state railway commission has been
invited by the Interstate Commerce
commission to send a representative to
a meeting of commissioners from the
grain growing states to agree upon
rules for distribution of cars during the
coming months of crop movement. In
Nebraska the distribution is upon two
bases, the amount of grain handled by
a shipper)during the previous year and
the amount of grain offered by the
shipper for Immediate transportation.
The problem Is how to adjust the dis
tribution In Interstate shipments, com
plaints having been made by shippers
that this does not make for prompt
movement on these shipments.
WOULD PAY DIVIDENDS
ON WATERED STOCK
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 13. - The city of
Omaha la entering a vigorous pro
test In the hearing before the state
railway commission against granting
the Omaha & Council Bluffs Street
Railway Company a 7-cent fare In
stead of & cents at present inside
Omaha limits. The city says that the
bonded indebtedness of approximate
ly $10,090,000 represents the actual
value of the proi*erty and thnt having
been built out of the proceeds of the
bonds, the holders of stock are in no
position to demand dividends on the
$9,000,000 represented thereby. The
city contends that the present rate
of fare will pay interest on the bonds
and that is sufficient return on the
true value of the property.
The company presented an expert
from New Jersey as its valuation en
gineer. Ho figures the reproduction
new value at $l».;ir>5.000. He admitted
that he took present high values as
his basis, but defended this on the
ground that the prices had been In
force for several years and would be
certain to continue for several more.
He said reproduction new value was
being accepted by the courts because
it was impossible to secure from, any
company's records correct figures as
to Its actual cost.
—♦—
WIFE IS LOCATED AND
HUSBAND IS RELEASED
Tecumeeh, Neb., Sept. IS. Mrs.
Addison Ross, who was searched for
here by her husband and a posse
with bloodhounds from Beatrice, has
been located at St. Joseph. Mo. She
was on her way to her sister's home
in Kansas City. Ross, who had asked
the authorities to aid In the search
for his wife, hud been locket! up and
held here pending the finding of his
wife. He was released when she was
heard from.
LINCOLN—Governor Neville has is
sued a proclamation declaring Friday
September 13. to be a public holiday In
Nebraska and calling upon al' olthtens
to honor that day as the biithday of
General Pershing.
ANSKLMO.—C. II. liickinson. af armer
living three miles northwest of Anselmo,
was badly injured by the bursting of a
gun. The gun was one of the old style
smqutti bore, muzxie loading vintage, and
1 the load had been In it for about three
months- Mr. thokinsou discovered a
coyotte near his home and as his chicken
^roost bad been suffering considerable
from these marauders, he grauped the
gun to kill the coyote, he gun barrel
hurst and the stock was splintered ami
Mr. Uleklmam received a bad wound in
ills left arm from a wood splinter and
further sustained a htoken nose and va
rious other injuries about the face.
j
PHONE CONTROVERSY
IS GROWING ACUTE
Nebraska Railway Commission
and Postal Department Or
ders at Variance.
Lincoln. Nob., Sep$. 12.--The Nebras
ka state railway commission must now
proceed to fish or cut bait on th*-prop
osition of whether it will lock horns
with the postoffice department on the
question of what charges shall be
made by telephone companies for in
stalling new phones. When it was re
cently announced from Washington
that the department, which now con
trols, by having taken them over, all
telephone companies In the country,
would require them to charge an in
tallation fee of $5 where .the rental
per month was $2 or less; $10 whore it
was between $2 and $4 and $15 In ex
cess of $4. Commissioner Hall, speak
ing for the body, said the companies
would not be allowed to make such
charges for the reason that the com
mission tfiid sole charge of rates un
der the state constitution, that the fees
charged were too high and that it
would result in many persons being
compelled to go without service.
Since then the department has served
notice on all companies that they
must make such charges. The Ne
braska Telephone Company—the Bell
—has put the matter squarely up to
the commission by asking for Its ap
proval of Installation charge schedule,
ft urges Immediate action as the order
of the department is mandatory, and
it desires to avoid any conflict of
authority.
The telephone companies would
rather maintain the old installation
charge schedule of $2, as fixed by
the commission, because the new one
will steadily cut down their lists be
cause fewer new phones will be or
dered while the normal discontin
uances will be received.
At the commission offices the
opinion is expressed that the post
office department will shortly issue
a flat rate schedule bf exchange
charges covering the entire country,
based either on population of the
town or number of exchange sub
scribers. This Is regarded as certain
to be higher than at present in order
to put the government on the safe
side when it comes to guaranteeing
returns on the investments, since
many companies are making no
money at present.
STREET CAR FARES
UP TO RAIL COMMISSION
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 12.- The state
railway commission is hearing the ap
plication of the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Street Railway Co., for permission to
increase its rate of fare from 6 to 6
cents. The cities are opposing the re
quest. The company insists that it has
been compelled to cease the payment
of common stock dividend* and that
unless It gets more money preferred
stockholders will also go hungry. The
city declares that the capitalisation of
the company greatly exceeds the
amount of money actually invested, and
It also says that the commission has no
jurisdiction in the matter, the Omaha
city charter providing that the council
shall regulate the rate of fare. The
rate question was submitted to a vote
of the people, and they adopted an ordi
nance requiring the company to sell
seven tickets for a quarter. The com
pany appealed to the courts, and there
the case has been lodged for sevyeraj
year*.
T ‘
REQUIRED ALL RETURNS
TO 8ETTLE ONE CONTEST
Lincoln, Neb,, Sept. 12.—The state
canvassing board has finally received
all county returns, the last one,
Scottsbluff, arriving Monday, three
weeks after the primary election: In
spite of the apparent lethargy of the
voters, 134,985 went to the polls to
express their choices. The republi
can total was 70,3t2,‘the democrats
64,487 and the prohibitionists 208. It
was not until the last county totals
were footed up that one nomination,
that of secretary of state was de
cided. The contest was a five-sided
one, but Hugh L. Cooper, Tecumseh
editor, who has been deputy secretary
of state for four years, nosed out
ahead of Dr. A. T. Gatewood of McL
Cook. the vote standing Cooper 14,641
votes, Gatewood 14,345, a majority for
Cooper of 297 votes.
The soldiers took very little inter
est In the primary election. The gov
ernor had made a great hustle to
get the names and addresses of all
Boldlers still In the United States who
were of voting age, going once to
Washington to get federal aid to se
cure the information. Ballot* were
sen* out to over- 12,000 ' soldiers, but
only 1.631 of these were returned, and
168 of these came too late to be
counted under the law.
NEBRASKA ATHLETE
LOSES BOTH EYES
Lincoln, Neb,, Sept. 12.—John R.
‘‘Dad” White, former athletic star of
the University of Nebraska, lost both
eyes and the bridge of his nose as a
result of being hit by a German ma
chine gun bullet, according to word
received by his parents. Mr. and Mrs.
R- N. White, of Bethany, a suburb of
Lincoln.
SBWARD—Sorghum is going to figure
as one of the most valuable sugar sub
stitutes In Nebraska this wittier. Mills
are running in a score or more counties
in the state aiul thousands of gallons of
first class sorghum will be turned out this
fall to akl the state through the sugar
crisis. For the first time In several years
this old fashioned molasses will be ex
tensively used In Nebraska.
NORTH PLATTE!—Henry Lunkwitx, of
Hershey. who was culled to leave for
Camp Grant Illinois, with the Lincoln
comity quota, was arrested before en
trainment for acting In a demented man
ner. attempting to hang himself and ap
pearing on the public highway without
wearing apparel. He was sent to camp
and after being arrested refused to con
verse.
NEBRASKA CITY Carl Mueller. 3U,
Son of Mr. and Mrs. LI. F. Mueller, of* this
city, was instantly killed In up automobile
aticklept accident three piljes west of
this «fity. and five companions, Ray
Clouse, Misses Naomi and Velma Clouse.
Georgia Thomas and Tina - oveft. were
more or less injured.
TANKER CLAIMS U-BOAT
WAS SENT TO BOTTOM
Washington, D. C.. Sept. 10.—The
navy deiwrtment had a report today
that an incoming tanker claimed to
have sunk a German submarine after
a'long buttle.
The department is now trying to as
certain 'l)o exact fact s and* is, with
holding details lest the story prove to
be another of the series of battles
without definite, result*.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
NOWON IN NEBRASKA
Republicans and Democrats
Open Headquarters and Be
gin Work In Lincoln.
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 11.—The political
campaign of 1918 Is now under a full
, head of steam. State democratic
headquarters are now open in charge
at Chairman Sprague. Over at the state
republican headquarters Chairman
Beach and Secretary Hansen have the
campaign under way. The control of
congress is an issue and there is likely
to be much orutory expended.
It Is believed now that the third,
party movement for governor and
senator are so near extinction that
they may be classed as dead. The In
surgents who after the primary de
glgred loudly that they would , nqvgr
get behind Norris or Morehead are nyt
nearly so noisy now. It is predicted,
however, that the election will see
much crossing of party lines. Norris
always has had a large democratic
support because of his progressive
platforms and record, and lie probably
will have It again because his oppo
nent, Morehead. is frankly conserva
tive. Conservative republicans who
hate Norris apart from his war record,
are certain to vote for Morehead.
— ♦
COMMISSIONER HALL
STIRRED UP TROUBLE
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 11.—Railway
Commissioner Tom L. Hall came near
ly causing a riot at Auburn. When he
hit the town in his automobile several
Aubumites recognized him and one
demanded to know why the commis
sion overruled the council of defense
and declared that the German people
had a right to use the German lan
guage over the telephone. Commls
(Bloned Hall appeared inclined to evade
the pointed question. He was told
that the law of public opinion in the
state and loyal Americans endorsed the
action of the council. This statement
made Tom angry and he swore a
mighty oath. A preacher present pro
tected against a state officer using
profanity and Hall apologized. Once
Commissioner Hall, when goaded by
criticism, Is alleged to have struck a
tragic attitude and to have shouted,
"By the eternal Gods I am your rail
way commissioner for the next two
years and I wi|l see that they have a
right to - use German over the tele
phone.” * >
Then somebody yelled "pro-German,”
another demanded that a supply of
eggs be produced and there was even a
eall for a rope. Mayor Higgins is
quoted as saying that matters became
so serious that he advised the irate
commissioner that it would be best to
leave town and he took the advice.
NEBRA8KA MAN DIED
WITH LUMPY JAW
Ainsworth. Neb.* Sept. 11.—Jacob
Orville Fry died at a hospital in this
city of a disease that has baffled the
physicians and surgeons of the middle
west for several years. Three years
ago he was working with cattle, some
of which were afflicted with lumpy
jaw.^ About two and a half years ago
. he was kicked on the jaw by a mule,
and soon after that a swelling began
at that point. He was treated by thi
HocaJ doctors and was then : ent to
Omaha, where his case attracted great
attention among the members of the
medical fraternity. He was after
wards sent to the Mayos at Roches
ter, Minn. They made a study of the
case and pronounced It lumpy jaw.
They said that when once that poiapn
was in the system it might be c"r
rled for five years. If there wras a
bruise on the body anywhere it was
likely to manifest Itself.
He was operated on 19 times by
surgeons In different parts of the
country. It is agreed by the medical
profession that there is no known
cure for the disease. The patient sim
ply wastes away and then dies.
NORRIS FAVORS CONTROL
OF THE STOCK YARDS
Washington. D. C., Sept. 11—In a let
ter made public today and addressed
to Benjamin C. Marsh, executive sec
retary of the farmers national commit
tee on packing plants and allied indus
tries. Senator Norrie of Nebraska, de
clares the financial and banking Insti
tutions allied with the packers are or
ganizing a fight for preservation of
existing conditions in the packing
business. Senator Norris in his let
ter promises support of legislation
to remedy packing evils and favors
recommendations of the trade commis
sion. He emphasizes the idea that
produced and consumer are at the
mercy of the packers and holds it is
highly Important the stockyards be
owned and operated by ttie public for
the public and without any idea of
profit.
STATE FAIR ATTENDANCE
BREAKS ALL RECORDS
Lincoln. Neb.. Sept. 11.— The Ne
braska state fair of 1918 made a new
attendance record on its 50th birthday.
The total attendance was 214.537 which
was over 14,000 In excess of 1917 when
the total attendance reached 200,468
New records were made for a week’s
attendance and for Monday., Thursday
and Friday. Thursday with an atten
dance of 65,562 was the banner day. It
beat all other state fair Thursdays. The
Closing feature was the military re
view in which 1,000 soldiers, now In
training at Lincoln, took part.
HER IDEA.
Kitty—Wh\ didn’t you buy the chest
nut horse? He is a beauty; kind, gen
tle and holds his head high.
Betty—I don’t want that kind of a
horse. I like one that holds his nose
close to the ground so he can see
w here he's going.
After the lust census in 1910. the
center of population was found to he
in the city of Bloomington, lnd. The
center of population is the point
about which? there are supposed to be
just as many people east as there
are west and just as many south ns
north. _ _
“GODMOTHERS" MUST STOP
WRITING TO “TOMMIES."
Boston-Soldiers’ godmothers must
give up corresponding with the men
of the British and Canadian armies,
according to an order that was re
ceived by the British and Canadian
recruiting mission here today.
The military authorities are said to
have found that the practice has re
sulted in obtaining important mili
tary information by the enemy and,
although all persons who write to sol
diers are not under suspicion, it has
Wen deemed wise to eliminate tills
practice, in which Chances have to bs
taken.
•
ST. QUENTIN SPIRES
EASILY IN SIGHT OF
ADVANCING BRITISH
With the British Armies in France, Sept. 11.—In the south Aus
tralian troops have advanced in the area from Vermand to the out
skirts of Attilly on the edge of Holnon wood, from the other side of y
which the whole of the flat country up to the famous German defensive
positions and the spires of St. Quentin are clearly visible.
In the north British patrols have penetrated through Pont De
Neippe without opposition. Here the Germans apparently have with
drawn for some distance.. More posts were established by the British,
south of the Lys yesterday.
A heavy rain still is tailing over the whole area and many of the
smaller streams have been flooded. In the Flanders lowlands tlnr
ground has become almost impassible.
BY LOWELL MELLETT,
United Press Staff Correspondent.
With the British Armies in France, Sept. 11 (11 a. m)—British
forces launched an attack at 3 a. in. today northwest of Peiziere. As
this is cabled it is reported the British captured important ridges.
(Peiziere is a northern suburb of Epeby on the Hindenburg line
midway between Cambravi and St. Quentin.)
At Trescault cemetery, on the eastern edge of Havrineourt wood,
the British advanced and occupied the old Hindenburg line in that
region.
, Heavy German shelling has developed all along the front. In the
Sensee valley the German batteries were worked so rapidly their
bombardment was like a hurricane.
By Havas Agency.
Paris. Sept. 11.—The village of Travecy, near the southern end of
the main Hindenburg line, lias been captured by the French, according
to reports received here. If the French can hold this time the import-1“•'i
ant enemy position at La Fere, a northerly defense of the St. Gobaih
massif, two miles south of Travecy, will be virtually outflanked.
j bill -- -_ _
By United Press.
Amsterdam, Sept. 11.—The Germans
are reported to be restoring the forti
fications of Liege, Bruges and Ghent,
according to advices from Belgium to
day. Twenty thousand of the inhabi
tants were declared to have been re
moved from Maubeuge.
Liege, Bruges and Ghent are impor
tant cities of 'Belgium. Maubeuge is
a fortress in northern;.France, field by
the Germans since 1914.
By Associated Press.
All approaches to the German
strongholds at La Fere and St. Quen
tin are held by the French and Brit
ish forces and the encircling move
ment that menaces the enemy posi
tion at Laon is progressing favorably.
The French are advancing on La Fere
from two sides, the movement from
Servais, northwest of town, carrying
them around the northern edge of the
famous St. Gobain massif, where the
Germans were favorably entrenched.
In their advance on St. Quentin the
French have taken Hinacourt and are
nearing Essigny-LeGrhnd. On the
French left the British have reached
Fresnoy-Le-Petit, about three miles
northwest of St. Quentin. Because of
weather conditions an attack in force
north from St. Quentin to La Fere is
not to be expected.
In the Lys sector Armentieres is al
most within the grasp of the British,
who are advancing from the north
and west. Armentieres is used by the
Gernrans as a supply center and next
to Douai it is the most important
point in the enemy’s system of mili
tary roads of communication. The
British are slowly driving a wedge in
the direction of Douai, which is re
ported to be burning.
In the Aisne-Vesle sector, where
the Americans are co-operating with
the French, the artillery fire con
tinues active. The Frencli have ad
vanced slightly at Glennes and north
of Laffaux and generally improved
their position.
ITALIANS ALSO WIN.
Home, Italy, Sept. 11.—A number of
local successful engagements are re
ported In the Italian war office com
munique.
"Towards Dorsocasino, repeated
hostile attacks foiled with losses,” the
commuuluue said. "In the Alano basin
wit raided the enemy, ptting their de
tachment to flight, killing some and
taking some prisoners without loss to
U«.
BY W’LLIAM PHILIP SIMMS.
United Press Staff Correspondent.
Paris, Sept. 11.—Through the most
terrific rains since the fighting began
last March, the allies today are not
ceasing to batter the Germans, harass
ing them everywhere from Dixmude to
Khclms.
Nevertheless the operations are
steadily slowing down. Belgians. Brit- I
lsh, French and Americans are snug
gling up closer to their former lines. If
the rains continue, mud will force a
further slackening; still the weather
has been exceptionally dry since before
the offensive and the German is thirsty,
so much of the moisture can be ab
sorbed. But an early setting in of the
rainy "Season, which is now liable at
any time, would affect the whole trend
of the remainder of the campaign.
Today, despite local fighting where
the British and French were driving in
the last G«rmnn outposts westward of,
the Hindenburg line, the western front'
was virtually marking time, pending
commencement of the new phase of the
campaign.
Will Foch Strike?
Experts here were totally at vari
ance regarding the nature of this new
phase of the fighting. Some declared
that Foch would not permit Luden
dorff to get his second wind at the
Hindenburg line, intimating that a
great blow is practically certain. Ojth
ers doubted whether there would be
any real offensive before spring.
German critics, however, speak as if
they were all drawing their inspiration
from the same fountain, which hither
to lias actually been the cnee. They
admit the allied blow was so serious
that German plans, certainly a* far as
191*. was coaceruatl. were completely
upset, and they suggest-that no further
offensive is pussible from their,side, al
though it is no secret that Hindenburg
bv shortening his lines, has accumu
lated some 40 divisions of passable re
serves with perhaps as many more en
tering the process of reorganization and
taking the rest curt^
DEATH TO TRAITORS.
Paris, Sept. 11.—A general order ad
vises all American units to adopt a
policy during buttle of killing anyone
who suggests surrendering. This pol
icy originated with a certain unit fight
ing at Flsmette. where genera! opera
tions were hampered yvhen some one in
tin American uhlform shfiuted that fur
ther resistance was not necessary nnrt
that therefore the troops should sur
render. This was probably a German
propagandist. The unit woe udvised Vc
mil anyone suggesting .surrender and
all American troops are following the
same plan. This means it will go hard
with any German propagandist attemp
ting to injure the morale of our soldiers
in battle. German prisoners taken in,
Alsace report the kaiser’s soldiers ar»
eagerly reading allied propaganda
papers which are thrown in their
trenches, despite the order of the Ger
man command forbidding soldiers to
read such literature and offering a re
ward for all tracts brought ,in. The
commands are not gettingMnafljy, as the
tracts are kept circulating among th*
troops.
Slaughter, Rioting and Pillage
In Petrograd With No Sem
blance of Restraint
By Law.
Washington, D. C„ Sept. 12.—A dis
patch from the American legation at
Christiana today said reliable informa
tion had reached there that Petrograd
was burning in 12 different places and
that there was indiscriminate massa
cre of the people in the streets.
Secretary Lansing, in announcing re
ceipt of the message, said it did ndt
indicate whether the massacre whn or
ganized or merely was the result of a
general state of anarchy. There w;ts
nothing to show what part the bolshe
vist authorities were playing in the sit.
uation.
SUBMARINE GETS
No Deatils Received—Ship
Was Returning to American
Port After Taking
Over Troops.
New York. Sept. 12.— The British
passenger steamer, Missanabie, 12.6K9
tons gross register in the service of
the British admiralty as a troop
transport, has been sunk by a sub
marine in European waters, accord
ing to information brought here by
passengers on another ship. The
Missanabie was returning to an
American port.
Officers of the army transport
service and representatives of the
Canadian Pacific railway line, own
ers of the ship, said they had received
no details ,o* the sinking. The vessel
carried a ctrew l'of about 200 and was
in command of Capt. William Halnea
on her last outward voyage.
ASK PRESIDENT TO
LET COTTON ALONE
Stabilization of Prices Would
Result In “Cotton Panic” In
South, Is Prediction.
By United Press.
Washington, D. C., Sept. 12.—Apical
will be taken to President Wilson for
the revocation of the order for the
appointment of a board to stabilise the
cotton situation.
Following a conference late yester
day with senators and representatives
from the cotton states B. M. Baruch,
chairman of the war industries board, is
to lay before the president the cotton
men's view. ...
They demand entire revocation of
orders for creation of a cotton stabiliz
ing board and a statement that the gov
ernment's policy is to let cotton alone,
'ill no other way, the.y told Hajrueh, can
a "cotton panic" be averted. This panic,
they said, would result in reducing .the
cotton crop next year greatly below this
> ear's crop which is slightly ever 11,
noo.eoo bales and therefore {» a shew*
crop.